Cable lobby plans lawsuit against FCC over station ownership limit repeal

Cable industry lobby groups have notified the Federal Communications Commission that they intend to file a lawsuit against the agency, Ars Technica reported. The legal action aims to block the controversial repeal of the National Television Ownership Rule, which restricts the number of broadcast television stations a single company can own. [1]

The cable lobby argues that the FCC cannot legally repeal the ownership limit because Congress established the rule. According to Ars Technica, the trade groups claim the agency arbitrarily and capriciously ignored the predictable consequences of permitting broadcast station groups to exceed the national cap. [1]

Brendan Carr has served as the chair of the FCC since 2025, having previously served as an agency commissioner since 2017. [2]

The cable industry groups stated that allowing broadcast TV station groups to consolidate will give them increased leverage to demand higher retransmission fees from pay-TV providers. Ars Technica reported that these higher fees are expected to result in increased monthly television bills for consumers. [1]